Cardiac Arrest & Life Saving Tips
More than 350,000 people in the U.S. will experience cardiac arrest outside of the hospital this year and close to 90 percent die because bystanders don't know how to perform CPR. Cardiac Arrest is a leading cause of death and is caused when the heart suddenly stops due to a malfunction that causes an irregular heartbeat and disruption of blood flow through the body. It is everyone's responsibility to understand the basics of CPR and to jump in quickly in a life threatening emergency.
After Checking the Scene and the Injured or Ill person, if there is no breathing:
Call for help while checking for a pulse and adequate breathing.
Push hard, push fast in the middle of the chest at least 2 inches deep and at least 100 compressions per minute. The person must be on a firm, flat surface.
Give 2 rescue breaths. Tilt the head back and lift the chin up. Pinch the nose shut then make a complete seal over the person's mouth. Blow in for about 1 second to make the chest clearly rise. Give rescue breaths, one after the other.
Do not stop with continuous cycles of CPR. The only exception would be; if you find an obvious sign of life, another trained responder is available to take over, an AED is ready to use, you are too exhausted to continue, or the scene becomes unsafe.
Symptoms of Cardiac Arrest:
Loss of consciousness, fainting, sudden collapse.
No heartbeat or pulse.
Racing heartbeat, dizzy, light-headed just before fainting.
Within an hour of cardiac arrest some experience chest pain, shortness of breath, nausea or vomiting, fatigue, blackouts and weakness.
No breathing.
In many instances cardiac arrest occurs with no warning. When the heart stops, the lack of oxygenated blood can cause brain damage in only a few minutes. Death or permanent brain damage can occur within four to six minutes. Time is critical when you are assisting an unconscious person who isn't breathing. Immediate action is a must!
There are a number of reasons to get certified in CPR, whether it is part of your job or just to be trained in the unfortunate event you may need to utilize the skills in your day to day life. We recommend training with a nationally accredited institution like the American Heart Association. Training in CPR/First Aid and Basic Life Support for Healthcare providers, or with classes that are tailored to meet the needs of diverse participants including individuals or business groups are available. Training can include:
How to recognize and treat emergencies
Compression techniques
Breathing techniques
Adult/Child rescue breathing
Adult/Child CPR
AED Instruction
Skills Testing & Certification
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